China Pressure Halts UK University Uyghur Forced Labour Research

Sheffield Hallam University halted research into forced labor involving Uyghur Muslims in China after Chinese state security officials intimidated university staff in Beijing, demanding the cessation of the project. The university initially complied with these demands, leading to a major research project being dropped and the removal of related content from the university's website, which also faced access blocks in China, impacting student recruitment. After internal and public criticism, Sheffield Hallam apologized to Professor Laura Murphy, who led the research, and reinstated support for her work, emphasizing a commitment to academic freedom. The UK government condemned the intimidation, warning Beijing that such actions would not be tolerated and reaffirmed efforts to protect academic freedom under national security laws. The episode highlighted vulnerabilities in UK higher education due to underfunding and dependence on international student recruitment, which may expose institutions to external pressures. Professor Murphy and officials alike expressed concerns over the chilling effect such interference has on important human rights research.